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International Day of the Girl Message from Administrator Green

Video Transcript

Today, is International Day of the Girl,
so, I want take a moment to reaffirm the
role that girls play
in our effort to end the need for foreign assistance.
No country can succeed if it excludes the voices
and talents of half its population.
From our advancement of entrepreneurship and innovation,
to our programs promoting peace and reconciliation,
we want to make this a safer,
more prosperous world, in order to get there
we need the partnership and leadership of women and girls
I believe the most powerful way to change a mind is through a story.
So, this International Day of the Girl,
we are inviting you to join us as we share stories
of empowered girls who are changing the world
just use the hashtag GirlsShine
Share your story and help us as we demonstrate
the impact that women and girls can make.
On this International Day of the Girl,
it’s my pleasure to introduce Michelle Bekkering
who serves as USAID’s new Senior Coordinator
for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
Michelle will be leading the Agency’s efforts
to accelerate equal opportunity for girls everywhere
and she has a special message for you.
I want to reaffirm USAID's commitment
to empowering girls around the world.
A girl’s future should be defined not by her sex,
but by her commitment to hard work and ability
to access the resources she needs to succeed.
At USAID, we’re working to break down the barriers
that keep girls from learning and leading.
We want every girl to go to school,
live in a home and community
free from violence, and receive the
care she needs to grow healthy and strong.
One of my favorite stories is of 12-year-old Aisyah.
Aisyah lives in a small farming town in Indonesia.
When her school, a USAID program partner,
developed a small library in her classroom,
Aisyah discovered her love for reading.
In just her first semester of sixth grade,
she read over 115 storybooks!
But what really makes Aisyah proud is
that she then taught her mom to read
and she is helping to nurture a love
of learning throughout her community.
In honor of International Day of the Girl, we are inviting you
To share stories of empowered girls using the hashtag GirlsShine.
The world is brighter when girls, like Aisyah, share their spark!